Light Control System and Associated Methods

ABSTRACT

A light control system including a lens may also include a first portion carried by the lens to filter a first polarized light, and a first central region within the first portion. The light control system may further include a second portion carried by the lens to filter a second polarized light, and a second central region within the second portion. The first portion may not substantially be in series with the second portion, and the first central region may not be substantially in series with the second central region.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of co-pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/933,825, filed 1 Nov. 2007 (Agent Docket No. MCF3), and thisapplication also claims the benefit of expired U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/868,700 filed Dec. 5, 2006 (Agent Docket No.MCF3(P)). The present application and both applications identified aboveinclude identical inventorship and ownership.

BACKGROUND

The embodiments relate generally to the field of light control systems,and particularly to the areas of light control through lens design.

Plane polarized lenses may be used in sunglasses that are specific toactivities at or near the surface of water to reduce the glare of thereflected sun light from the water's surface. Generally speaking thishas the double purpose of allowing greater visibility to events orobjects below the surface of the water, as well as to reduce stress onthe eyes of the observer or sensors of the observation equipment.

Similar effects and uses are found elsewhere where reflective surfacesabound, such as in snow-covered landscapes or driving. Note that this isnot a question of generally darkening the landscape but rather ofremoving selected light which is incident from uninteresting reflections(glare) rather than from objects that are being viewed.

Commonly available sunglasses include lenses of uniform polarizationmeaning that all points of the lens block light that is polarized in thesame plane. This specific plane is chosen to absorb the most lightpossible in the most general case possible.

For example, FIG. 1 illustrates a polarized set of sunglasses includinga common polarization angle throughout the lens. In this case, glare isblocked from reflections based on the directional source of the lightbecause specific sources can reflect from surfaces that will create thispolarization angle once reflected.

SUMMARY

Advantages in accordance with various embodiments are provided by alight control system. The light control system may include a lens, and afirst portion carried by the lens to filter a first polarized light.There may be a first central region within the first portion. The lightcontrol system may further include a second portion carried by the lensto filter a second polarized light. There may be a second central regionwithin the second portion. In addition, the first portion may notsubstantially be in series with the second portion, and the firstcentral region may not be substantially in series with the secondcentral region.

The first portion and the second portion may lie in a single plane ofthe light control system. Further, the single plane may be curved.

The first portion may lie in a first plane and the second portion maylie in a second plane that is in spaced relation with the first plane.The first plane may be curved and the second plane may be substantiallyparallel to the first plane.

Another portion may be rotatably mounted with respect to the firstportion. The first portion and the second portion may lie on oppositesides of the lens, with the first portion's light filtering mirroringthe second portion's light filtering.

The light control system may further include at least one other portioncarried by the lens to filter at least one other polarized light, andthe at least one other portion may not be substantially in series withthe first portion and/or the second portion. The at least one otherportion, the first portion, and the second portion may lie in a singleplane.

In addition, the single plane may be curved. The first portion may liein a first plane and the second portion may lie in a second plane thatis in spaced relation with the first plane. The first plane may becurved, and the second plane may be substantially parallel to the firstplane.

The light control system may further include a plurality of lens wherethe first portion lies on one of the plurality of lens. Further, thesecond portion may lie on another of the plurality of lens, and thefirst portion's light filtering may mirror the second portion's lightfiltering.

The light control system with the plurality of lens may include a firstportion carried by one of the plurality of lens to filter a firstpolarized light. In addition, a second portion may be carried by anotherof the plurality of lens to filter a second polarized light. The firstportion's light filtering may mirror the second portion's lightfiltering. Such a light control system may also include aneyeglass-frame to carry the plurality of lens.

Another aspect is a method for light control. The method may includepositioning a first portion of a lens to not be substantially in serieswith a second portion. The method may also include filtering a firstpolarized light with the first portion. The method may further includefiltering a second polarized light with the second portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a set of polarized sunglasses as found in the priorart.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a reflective surface polarizinglight that is then transmitted by a lens.

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of polarized light matching thepolarization of a polarized lens being absorbed.

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of polarized light matching thepolarization of a polarized lens being absorbed while non-matchingpolarized light is not absorbed.

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of multiple reflective surfacessharing parallel horizontal orientations.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating that a single light source canprovide unpolarized lights to multiple reflective surfaces.

FIG. 7 is a frontal view of a light control system in accordance withone embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional block diagram illustrating a lens asshown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a different embodiment of a partial cross-sectional blockdiagram illustrating a lens as shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a frontal view of a light control system in accordance withone embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a frontal view of a light control system in accordance withone.

FIG. 12 is a frontal view of a light control system in accordance withone embodiment.

FIG. 13 illustrates a block diagram of polarized light matching thepolarization of a polarized lens being absorbed while non-matchingpolarized light is not absorbed with polarization being orienteddifferently in different parts of the system in an outdoor applicationexample.

FIG. 14 is a frontal view of a light control system in accordance withthe teaching of the embodiment according to FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a method in accordance with theembodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred are shown.The embodiments may, however, be embodied in many different forms andshould not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will bethorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of theembodiments to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to likeelements throughout, and prime notation is used to indicate similarelements in alternative embodiments. As will be appreciated by oneskilled in the art, the embodiments may be embodied as a method, system,and/or apparatus.

Referring initially to FIGS. 2-4, a general discussion of light controlinvolving a lens is now described. In FIG. 2, a light source 10, such asthe sun, provides unpolarized light 12 to a reflective surface 14. As aresult, a light polarized by reflection 16 (glare) is directed towards,and through, an unpolarized lens 18 into a light receptor 20. The lightreceptor 20 may be an observer's eye, a light sensor, or the like.

FIG. 3 considers an alternative case in which the light polarized byreflection 16 (glare) is directed towards, and through, a polarized lens22 instead of the unpolarized lens 18. In this case, the light polarizedby reflection 16 (glare) is absorbed and/or filtered out by thepolarized lens 22 before reaching the light receptor 20.

Assuming there is a plurality of light polarized by reflection 16 andwith reference to FIG. 4, the polarized lens 22 absorbs the plurality oflight polarized by reflections 16 a-16 c if the polarization of thelight polarized by reflections matches the polarization of the polarizedlens 22. For instance, the plurality of light polarized by reflections16 a-16 c is absorbed by the polarized lens 22 because the polarizationof the light polarized by reflections matches the polarization of thepolarized lens. In addition, other light polarized by reflection 24 isnot absorbed and/or filtered by the polarized lens 22 because thepolarization of the other light polarized by reflection fails to matchthe polarization of the polarized lens.

In another case, and with reference to FIG. 5, light from multiplesources 26 a-26 d that is unpolarized may individually be directed by arespective one of multiple reflective surfaces 28 a-28 d towards thepolarized lens 22. In this case, the multiple reflective surfaces 28a-28 d share parallel horizontal orientations and therefore producefurther light polarized by reflections 30 a-30 d having matchingpolarizations. As a result, if the polarization of the polarized lens 22matches the polarization of any of the further light polarized byreflections 30 a-30 d, then the light polarized by reflections will beabsorbed by the polarized lens. In other words, the polarization of eachof the further light polarized by reflections 30 a-30 d match each otheras well as the polarization of the polarized lens 22. Standard polarizedsunglasses, e.g. FIG. 1, work in this manner.

However, this approach leaves much to be desired in terms of occludingglare. Peripheral glare, or glare from reflections outside of thespecific focus of the wearer's eye, is less efficiently blocked.

For example, with reference to FIG. 6, a single light source 10 canprovide unpolarized lights 32 a-32 d to other multiple reflectivesurfaces 34 a-34 d. In this case, the other multiple reflective surfaces34 a-34 d do not share a parallel horizontal orientation. As such,polarized lights 36 a-36 d that do not share a common polar orientationis produced from a single light source 10.

The polarized lights 36 a-36 d are directed towards a recipientpolarized lens 38. The polarization of the recipient polarized lens 38only matches the polarization of the polarized light 36 c and thereforethe polarized light 36 c is absorbed and/or filtered out by therecipient polarized lens. However, the polarization of the recipientpolarized lens 38 does not match the polarization of the polarizedlights 36 a, 36 b, and 36 d and therefore the polarized lights 36 a, 36b, and 36 d are not absorbed and/or filtered out by the recipientpolarized lens and enter into the light receptor 20. Stated another way,the recipient polarized lens 38 blocks only some of the glare producedby the polarized lights 36 a-36 d.

This problem is due to the fact that the geometry of eye (e.g. lightreceptor 20), lens, reflective surface, and light source are notconducive to the overly simplified approach that is generally used todesign sunglass lenses. Most current designs ignore the fact that glarereflecting from surfaces anywhere in the field of view can be such thatit will arrive at the lens and be transmitted to the eye. Instead, mostcurrent designs use the simplified view of a single polarization planewhich is adequate for the largest area of reflection and the greatestamount of focus by the wearer.

An alternative and improved design for polarized lenses relies on apolarization pattern in the lenses of sunglasses that does not absorblight of the same polarization throughout the lens. Instead, the lens isassumed to be part of a system including a myriad of reflective surfacesand the wearer's eye. In this system, the lens is polarized in aspecific pattern such that glare which is on a path from a reflectedsurface to the wearer's eye in a specific application is most likelyabsorbed.

The pattern of polarization of the lens specifically addresses the angleof polarization for chosen glare absorption at each point on the lens.Such a light control system 40 is initially described with reference toFIGS. 7-9. The light control system 40 includes a lens 42, and a firstportion 44 carried by the lens to filter a first polarized light 46, forexample. There is a first central region 48 within the first portion 44that lies at or near the center of the first portion, for instance. Thelight control system 40 further includes a second portion 50 carried bythe lens 42 to filter a second polarized light 52, for example. There isa second central region 54 within the second portion 50 that lies at ornear the center of the second portion, for instance. In addition, thefirst portion 44 is not substantially in series with the second portion50, and the first central region 48 is not substantially in series withthe second central region 54, for example.

In one embodiment, the first portion 44 and the second portion 50 lie ina single plane 56 of the light control system 40. Further, the singleplane 56 may be curved.

In another embodiment, the first portion 44 lies in a first plane 58 andthe second portion 50 lies in a second plane 60 that is in spacedrelation with the first plane. The first plane 58 is curved and thesecond plane 60 is substantially parallel to the first plane, forexample. In another embodiment, unpolarized portions 51 a-51 c liewithin the first plane 58 and the second plane 60 as will be appreciatedby those of skill in the art.

In one embodiment, the first portion 44 and the second portion 50 lie onopposite sides of the lens 42, and the first portion's light filteringmirrors the second portion's light filtering. In another embodiment, thelight control system 40 further includes at least one other portion 62carried by the lens 42 to filter at least one other polarized light 64,and the at least one other portion may not be substantially in serieswith the first portion 44 and/or the second portion 50.

Additionally, the at least one other portion 62, the first portion 44,and the second portion 50 lie in a single plane 56. Furthermore, thesingle plane 56 may be curved. Moreover, the first portion 44 lies in afirst plane 58 and the second portion 50 lies in a second plane 60 thatis in spaced relation with the first plane, for example. In thisembodiment, the first plane 58 is curved, and the second plane 60 issubstantially parallel to the first plane, for instance.

The light control system 40 may also include an eyeglass-frame 66 tocarry the lens 42. In addition, the light control system 40 may furtherinclude a nose bridge 67 as will be appreciated by those of skill in theart.

Accordingly, a light control system for occluding glare, especiallyperipheral glare, or glare from reflections outside of the specificfocus of a wearer's eye, is more efficiently blocked. For instance, theretina of person's eye has a central area called the fovea which isdense and rich for receiving visual signals. In other words, the foveais the part of the retina a person sees with, while non-foveal portionsof the retina are more prone to sense contrast changes and movementwithout specific ability to form an image of what is being seen. Thesenon-foveal portions of the retina escalate activity to the brain, whichthen demands attention and instructs the neck and eye muscles to moveand look at the peripheral area by re-orienting the fovea when needed.

An important consideration is that if glare is incident on thenon-foveal areas, then a person is essentially blind to movement inperipheral areas so the brain never gets an attention signal and neverchooses to look in the peripheral areas. As a result, the new lightcontrol system 40 is anatomically validated because it allows the brainto get attention signals from regions that would previously be saturatedby glare. Stated another way, these new attention signals provided bythe light control system 40 should effectively enlarge the wearer'scurrent field of sight perception.

With additional reference to FIG. 10, in one embodiment, the lightcontrol system 68 further includes a plurality of lens 70 a and 70 b,and a first portion 72 lies on one of the plurality of lens. Further,the second portion 74 lies on another of the plurality of lens, and thefirst portion's 72 light filtering may mirror the second portion's 74light filtering.

In another embodiment, the light control system 68 with the plurality oflens 70 a and 70 b includes a first portion 72 carried by one of theplurality of lens 70 a to filter a first polarized light 76. Inaddition, the second portion 74, which is carried by another of theplurality of lens 70 b, filters a second polarized light 78. The firstportion's 72 light filtering mirrors the second portion's 74 lightfiltering, for instance. Such a light control system 68 may also includean eyeglass-frame 80 to carry the plurality of lens 70 a and 70 b.

In another embodiment, another portion 82 is rotatably mounted withrespect to the first portion 72. In other words, the polarization of thelenses provides for field adaptation of the glasses by the wearer tosubstantially match the light conditions to the polarization potentialof the glasses.

For instance, depending on the position of the light source, the angleat which incident glare in the central region of view is polarized willbe altered, relative to the viewer. In this case, independentoptimization by rotating the polarized material within the glasses frameuntil an optimal amount of glare is absorbed in the direction ofobservation can be achieved. By allowing each lens to be independentlyoptimized, or coupling them together (mechanically or otherwise), thewearer's specific preference for improved absorption or simplicity ofadjustment can be implemented.

With additional reference to FIG. 11, another embodiment is described.In this embodiment, a lens 84 that includes more than one distinctpolarization orientation in more than one portion of the lens' area,such as a “split” with the left portion 86 of the lens having onepolarization angle and the right portion 88 of the same lens having adifferent polarization angle in a given eyepiece 90 a and 90 b. Suchdual polarization glasses 92 block polarized glare from horizontalsurfaces in the direction of gaze for a person wearing the dualpolarization glasses. In addition, the dual polarization glasses 92block polarized glare from peripheral surfaces that reflect glare fromsources of light which are also in the direction of gaze of the wearer.

More broadly and based on the availability of specialized lensmaterials, the pattern of polarization angles can vary to a greaterdegree. Adaptations of the light control system 40 can be implementedfor each target use, such as driving, snow activities, water activities,or the like.

With additional reference to FIG. 12, another embodiment is described.In this embodiment, a complex pattern of polarization is adapted to aspecific use, with specific polarization angles in continuous variationthroughout the surface of each lens 94 a and 94 b.

Such an embodiment applies to the specific case of observing bodies ofwater, and/or sand or snow environments during daylight hours such asmight be needed in sporting activities. The center of each lens ispolarized in a small region using plane polarization as is standard inthe art. This generally obstructs glare from the surface of the waterwhich is horizontal directly in the line of site of the wearer.Laterally around this center, incident light necessarily arrivesreflected from surfaces of varying angles that are caused by ripples andwaves (referred to as disruptions) in the water's surface (or by skyscattering from above). By varying the polarization angle of the lensoutward from its central orientation (reflections from horizontalsurfaces) to the edge of the lens (increasingly vertical surfaces withreflective areas generally pointing glare toward the observer), agreater amount of glare is reduced.

Consider any plane that is orthogonal to the ideal level surface of thewater that is being observed. For general light sources on this planethat reflect off of the water's surface, plane-polarized lenses willabsorb glare, whether it's in the peripheral or central vision of theobserver. If the primary light source is generally overhead, then glarereflections from the direction of the observer's gaze will be properlyabsorbed. But light hitting peripheral surfaces will generally beheading away from the observer and glare will only occur if the light issent back by a reflective surface which cannot be horizontal and whichis therefore not polarized in the same plane. In fact, the reflectivesurface must vary in orientation according to factors that are dependenton the circumstances, from zero to around 45°. This variation createsopportunity for application-specific polarization patterns based ondistance, light source, and other conditions as are typically needed byconsumers.

Regions of differing polarization on a single lens substrate can becreated using standard polarization techniques in a series of treatmentsthat each affects only a portion of the substrate area. StandardPolaroid film of polyvinyl alcohol plastic with iodine doping, forexample, can be applied and oriented through stretching. By working witheach desired region of polarization while other regions are masked, thecorrect orientation of each region of the final lens can be accuratelymanufactured.

Alternatively, a polarization “wire grid” pattern can be designed tovary the polarization angle smoothly across the lens. Lithographictechniques can then be used to shrink this design and apply it in theform of an appropriately small metallic grid. Other variations on thesetechniques, such as the use of metallic nano-particles in an alignedarray, can result in an appropriate embodiment of the application.

Use of specialized materials and lens shapes can provide continuousvariation in polarization so that the wearer does not distinguishspecific bands of polarization. Similarly, different sizes of lensescall for different polarization levels between the center and theextremes. Variable polarized lenses can complement plane polarized orconventional polarized lenses in a single frame to create a general caseand also a specific-application embodiment that is of added utility.

A prophetic example is discussed with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. Theexample is a polarization scenario for an outdoor water applicationwhere non-glare sources lack any coherent polarization pattern, andglare sources vary in polarization according to a typical pattern for agiven environment. In this case, polarization symbols 95 a-95 e indicatehow light 96 a-96 e is polarized in a specific plane, e.g. along theline of the double-ended arrow.

Under the foregoing circumstances, a lens 98 and or light control system99, transmits light 96 b and 96 d, which are non-glare sources. Thevariable polarization on the different portions of the lens 98, 97 a and97 b provides blockage of glare incident on the lens that wouldotherwise have been destined for the light receptor 20, e.g. the retinaof a wearer or the photo sensitive element of a light sensor.

Another aspect is a method for light control, which is now describedwith reference to flowchart 100 of FIG. 15. The method begins at Block102 and may include positioning a first portion of a lens to not besubstantially in series with a second portion at Block 104. The methodmay also include filtering a first polarized light with the firstportion at Block 106. The method may further include filtering a secondpolarized light with the second portion at Block 108. The method ends atBlock 110.

Many modifications and other embodiments will come to the mind of oneskilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in theforegoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it isunderstood that the embodiments are not to be limited to the specificembodiments disclosed, and that other modifications and embodiments areintended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A light control system comprising: a lens;a first portion carried by said lens to filter a first polarized light;a first central region within said first portion; a second portioncarried by said lens to filter a second polarized light; and a secondcentral region within said second portion; said first portion notsubstantially in series with said second portion, and said first centralregion not substantially in series with said second central region. 2.The system of claim 1 wherein said first portion lies in a first planeand said second portion lies in a second plane that is in spacedrelation with the first plane.
 3. The system of claim 2 wherein thefirst plane is curved and the second plane is substantially parallel tothe first plane.
 4. The system of claim 1 further comprising anotherportion that is rotatably mounted with respect to said first portion. 5.The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one other portioncarried by said lens to filter at least one other polarized light, andsaid at least one other portion not substantially in series with saidfirst portion or said second portion.
 6. The system of claim 5 whereinsaid first portion lies in a first plane and said second portion lies ina second plane that is in spaced relation with the first plane.
 7. Thesystem of claim 6 wherein the first plane is curved, and the secondplane is substantially parallel to the first plane.
 8. The system ofclaim 1 wherein said first portion and said second portion lie onopposite sides of said lens; and wherein said first portion's lightfiltering mirrors said second portion's light filtering.
 9. The systemof claim 1 further comprising a plurality of lens; and wherein saidfirst portion lies on one of the plurality of lens; and said secondportion lies on another of the plurality of lens; and wherein said firstportion's light filtering mirrors said second portion's light filtering.10. A method for light control comprising: positioning a first portionof a lens to not be substantially in series with a second portion;filtering a first polarized light with the first portion; and filteringa second polarized light with the second portion.
 11. The method ofclaim 10 wherein the first portion lies in a first curved plane and thesecond portion lies in parallel spaced relation with the first plane.12. The method of claim 10 further comprising: positioning the firstportion to lie opposite the second portion on the lens; and configuringthe first portion's light filtering to mirror the second portion's lightfiltering.
 13. The method of claim 10 further comprising rotatablymounting the first portion with respect to the second portion.
 14. Alight control system comprising: a plurality of lens; a first portioncarried by one of said plurality of lens to filter a first polarizedlight; a second portion carried by another of said plurality of lens tofilter a second polarized light; and said first portion's lightfiltering mirroring said second portion's light filtering.
 15. The lightcontrol system of claim 14 further comprising an eyeglass-frame to carrysaid plurality of lens.